So long, 2021! #DropKick!

31 Dec 2021 57 Comments

by Ritu in Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: , , , ,

What an unbelievably long year that took a relatively short time to pass!

Okay, so I know that made no sense at all, but you might just have an inkling as to what I’m talking about.

trash bag 2021

2021 feels like a year unlike no other, for me. There were ups and downs, throughout it, but, the overwhelming feeling I had, was of existing.

It felt as if I just needed to ‘get through’.

I think I just about existed through the year if I’m totally honest with you.

Do you know what I mean?

More remote learning, though the beginning of the year. More uncertainty as Covid got its claws stuck in, then kin of retracted them, then attacked, again. So many Lateral Flow Tests.

And from September, a new class filled with gorgeous children, some of whom had the hardest collective level of need that our school had ever faced.

My brain was like mush, in many ways. I couldn’t concentrate on much more than what I was doing in school, and keeping the household going, at home.

No real breakthrough in my writing. Yes, I blogged every Monday and Sunday, with the odd other post, but even my beloved blog couldn’t get my creative juices flowing.

smash 2021

And even though I lost some weight at the beginning of the year, it all piled back on, and then some…

We lost my uncle, too…

Oh, then there was my Bro-in-law fracturing his ankle in two places, meaning an operation and he is still unable to walk unaided, Father-in-law getting his cataracts done, Pops having his operation, my mother-in-law having her knee operations cancelled, Mum hurting her leg at the end of the year, and another family member is hospital too…

But, as I said, there were many ups, too.

No one tested positive in our family.

We did find our forever home and I now have my own writing room, and everyone has the space they crave, including Lil Man and a garden where he can go cricket-mad.

christmas face mask

I did get through my first academic year as Phase Leader of the Early Years department, and in School Management.

Lil Man passed his GCSEs and is now doing his A-Levels.

Lil Princess became a teenager (and she doesn’t let us forget!)

We celebrated our 20th Wedding Anniversary.

I managed to see Pops and Mum twice, at least.

I got some fabulous news at the tail end of the year… still not 100% confirmed, but fingers crossed, soon!

And that is the end of this year.

I end it exhausted, and still not 100% sure what I am walking into, when I go to school on Tuesday, or what the rest of the year holds… but I live in hope!

How was your 2021?

Come on 2022! Let’s see what you’ve got in store for us!

57 Comments (+add yours?)

  1. revivedwriter
    Jan 04, 2022 @ 21:12:00

    I know what you mean about “just existing” through this year. I looked back and pretty much wondered, “What even happened this year?” I wrote a post on my blog called “Dear 2021,” if you’re interested.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  2. Rae Longest
    Jan 02, 2022 @ 02:35:13

    HAPPY NEW YEAR. Bring on 2022.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  3. OIKOS™- Art, Books & more
    Jan 01, 2022 @ 21:59:07

    Oh, i forgot, Sis! The “new” yard now is also really fantastic for cricketing. A so called “Win-Win-Situtation”, and you can watch without driving before. 😉 xx Michael.

    Liked by 1 person

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  4. VJ Knutson
    Jan 01, 2022 @ 16:45:39

    I’d like to say 2022 will be better, but it doesn’t look like it. May you find the fortitude and grace to get through.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  5. cindy knoke
    Jan 01, 2022 @ 00:00:52

    Health & Happiness to you in 2022!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  6. pensitivity101
    Dec 31, 2021 @ 19:51:21

    Happy New Year Ritu to you and your family.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  7. Steve Tanham
    Dec 31, 2021 @ 18:31:02

    Drop kick… I know you softened it, Ritu, but I loved that opening sentiment… May 2022 bring us all a kinder world with at least a path to happier and fairer times ♥️

    Liked by 1 person

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  8. D. Wallace Peach
    Dec 31, 2021 @ 18:24:43

    I had high hopes for 2021 and it ended up being more of the same. I’m sorry for the troubles and relieved that you haven’t lost sight of the good stuff. Wishing you a fabulous 2022.

    Liked by 1 person

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  9. syl65
    Dec 31, 2021 @ 18:04:43

    Happy New Year’s Eve and blessings in the New Year, Sister 🙏🏽💜🥳

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  10. johnrieber
    Dec 31, 2021 @ 17:51:17

    Yes indeed! Here’s to a more normal 2022, with people doing the right thing, working together and getting us back to a better place for all!Cheers!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  11. Laleh Chini
    Dec 31, 2021 @ 16:24:08

    Happy new year 🥳❤️

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  12. Darlene
    Dec 31, 2021 @ 16:02:09

    Wishing you a 2022 filled with kindness, creativity and love!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  13. Rebecca Moon Ruark
    Dec 31, 2021 @ 15:50:37

    Oh, yes, seriously drop-kick this year! Sooooo hoping 2022 has a lot of health and sunshine in store!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  14. Hugh W. Roberts
    Dec 31, 2021 @ 15:38:08

    What a year it’s been for you, all summed up nicely in this post. To be honest, I’m still trying to work out how 2021 seems to have escaped past me. It only seems like last week that I was welcoming in 2021 with everything crossed that some kind of normality would come hand in hand with 2021. This year, I’m planning on being fast asleep as 2022 arrives.

    Happy New Year, Ritu. May it bring lots of fun, happiness and good health to you and your family.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Ritu
      Dec 31, 2021 @ 15:57:31

      It’s certainly been eventful, Hugh!
      Right now, I’ve a headache, and I wouldn’t be surprised if I was asleep at midnight, either!
      Here’s to a good one, Hugh xx

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  15. John W. Howell
    Dec 31, 2021 @ 14:54:09

    Happy New Year, Ritu.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  16. Dan Antion
    Dec 31, 2021 @ 13:16:57

    2021 tried to be a good year, but nature and variants conspired to keep it in the negative zone. Let’s hope 2022 is better, all around. I hope you and your family have a wonderful new year, Rita.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  17. Jennie
    Dec 31, 2021 @ 12:21:51

    Here’s to a new year, Ritu. May it be a healthy and happy one!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  18. Books & Bonsai
    Dec 31, 2021 @ 11:11:09

    Our year was pretty bad, not entirely due to the state of the planet. Hopefully, there will be good news all around for all of us in 2022…

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  19. Annette Rochelle Aben
    Dec 31, 2021 @ 10:30:30

    Happiness for you, in 2022! ❤

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  20. CJ
    Dec 31, 2021 @ 10:11:32

    You’re amazing, you achieved so much in 2021, moving house alone is a huge accomplishment. 2021 here was good in many ways, but I just didn’t manage to fit in fiction writing, which was a huge disappointment to me because it’s my dream. I did do really well with freelance writing though, so that was good. I’m going into 2022 determined to make progress on the fiction front. I have rough first drafts which need rewriting and my main goal is to publish the first one of them. Wishing you success and happiness for 2022 Ritu. Onwards! CJ xx

    Liked by 2 people

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  21. Marje @ Kyrosmagica
    Dec 31, 2021 @ 09:24:39

    What a year it has been Ritu. Can’t wait to hear your news! Luckily, only one of us tested positive, my eldest daughter who recovered well but said it was the worst illness she’s ever had. She had the full brunt of it as she was unvaccinated at the time. Pretty sure hubby had it early on, but no testing back then. Writing wise finally finished Book 2 Curse of Time! And this is currently with publishers. Wishing you all the best for a happy stress free 2022. Here’s hoping! Xxx

    Liked by 2 people

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  22. beth
    Dec 31, 2021 @ 08:40:04

    I’m glad you are still able to see some good in this very challenging year. we have to look for the good, even with so many challenges. like you, the kinder I teach have been a joy in my life throughout, but only being 3 and 4, I often want to yell out, ‘school isn’t always like this!,’ and do the best I can to still make it a great experience for them. here’s to 2022!

    Liked by 2 people

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  23. willowdot21
    Dec 31, 2021 @ 06:41:50

    If I wrote here what I really thought of last year I would be thrown off wordpress. So I will say we survived Sis we survived. Let’s hope and pray that 2022 can bring up some hope and light 💜🍀🍀🍀🍀

    Liked by 2 people

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